Aged care facility visit restrictions

each resident may have one visit a day, by up to two visitors, for no longer than two hours

visits to be in the resident’s room, outdoors or a designated area in the facility

all visitors must have an influenza vaccination (more on this below).

Additional visits will only be permitted:

for the purpose of end of life support

if requested by the facility to provide essential support to a resident to reduce distress or confusion as a result of a medical condition.

People should not visit any residential aged care facility if they:

have been interstate or overseas in the past 14 days

are displaying symptoms of respiratory infection or have a temperature higher than 37.5 degrees

have had contact within the past 14 days with a person diagnosed with COVID-19, or reasonably suspected of having COVID-19

are aged 16 years or less. Exceptions can be provided by the Director of Public health or their delegate. Exceptions include that the visitor is a significant person in the resident’s life (child, partner etc) or providing end of life support for the resident.

Operators of aged care facilities must screen all people before they enter the premises.

Influenza vaccination

From 1 May 2020, you must have your influenza vaccination to work in or visit an aged care facility. In Tasmania, if you have a certificate from a GP stating that you have a medical contra-indication to influenza vaccine, then this requirement does not apply.

The exception to this requirement is if you are entering the premises for the purposes of emergency medical, including transport, emergency management or law enforcement services.

Your rights and responsibilities

Discrimination is against the law in Tasmania in a number of areas, including:

Employment (paid and unpaid work)

Providing goods and services

Education (schools and universities)

Accommodation, including rentals

Your rights during the pandemic

During the pandemic, and various shutdowns, you have the right to live and work in a discrimination and harassment free environment.

You have the right not to be discriminated against because of your race, disability, family responsibilities and a number of other grounds.

Disability includes any medical condition, including coronavirus (COVID-19).

It is also against the law to treat someone less favourably because you think that they have coronavirus.

Examples of unlawful discrimination and prohibited conduct

Making racist comments towards people because of their race. Race includes a person’s skin colour, nationality, ethnic background and immigrant status.

Reducing someone’s hours or terminating someone’s employment because they have COVID-19, or have a family member who is in isolation, or have completed a period of quarantine due to suspected COVID-19.

Refusing to rent a property to someone because of their race, or because they have COVID-19.

Cancelling a rental contract/agreement because you think someone may get COVID-19 because that person is a health care worker.

Refusing to serve a customer because of their race, or because they are wearing a mask.

Not providing proper services or support to someone with disability when those services could be provided while COVID-19 restrictions are in place.

Depending on medical advice, not allowing an employee to work from home who is older or is vulnerable to COVID-19 because of their health or because they are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.

Your responsibilities during the pandemic

You have a responsibility to follow all the latest public health advice and laws related to managing the pandemic.

You have a responsibility not to discriminate, engage in offensive, humiliating, insulting, intimidating or ridiculing conduct, or incite hatred towards people because of their race or presumed disability (including if you think they have COVID-19).

Gatherings have increased to up to 20 people at a time for indoor and outdoor, with physical distancing of 1.5 metres (where practicable) and a maximum of one person per 4 square metres. Read about physical distancing and maximum density.

minimise, where possible, close contact and the sharing of objects such as cups, food and drinks;

routinely clean and disinfect all frequently touched surfaces and objects such as doorknobs, bannisters, countertops, taps and phones;

provide individuals with disability in residential settings and staff providing services in these settings with accurate, up to date information about COVID-19 and steps they can take to protect themselves and their families;

provide regular up to date health messages and key public health messages.

Core responsibilities for all services

All service providers have a responsibility to:

ensure staff are trained in infection prevention and control;

respond to requirements for quarantine or COVID-19 illness among service recipients or staff in accordance with the Tasmanian and Australian Government guidelines and instructions;

develop and implement business continuity plans to ensure critical supports and services continue to be provided for people with disability, while reducing risk of exposure to COVID-19 of both people with disability and staff;

ensure that all people with disability are supported to access relevant and up to date information in a format that they can understand. Please see the information on the NDIS website for participants. This information is available in a number of formats and languages;

ensure families and carers receive information about any changed practices or service delivery to respond to COVID-19 and that any such changes are relayed to the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission;

note that, if they are an NDIS provider, they have specific obligations under the NDIS Code of Conduct and the NDIS Practice Standards that relate to the delivery of safe quality supports and services and the management of risks associated with supports provided to NDIS participants; and

Direction under Section 16 of the Tasmanian Public Health Act 1997 - Gatherings

Restrictions on gatherings are in place in Tasmania to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community. Information is available under Gatherings.

Tasmanians with disabilities are subject to the same restrictions as the general population, that is to stay home unless it is essential to go out to:

shop for supplies or services; or

undertake personal exercise; or

attend medical, or health care, appointments or for medical treatment; or

provide social support, or care, to another person (including compassionate needs, or to facilitate shared custody, guardianship or care arrangements for another person); or

attend school or study, if unable to be performed at the person’s home; or

attend work, or volunteering, if unable to be performed at the person’s home; or

seek veterinary services for an animal; or

perform essential maintenance, or security inspections, of another premises owned, or occupied, by the person; or

attend another location if you have a reasonable excuse to attend the location.

Tasmanians with disabilities may seek assistance from carers or support workers to shop for supplies or to exercise outside.

Exemptions

A person with a disability may also seek assistance or support from more than one carer or support worker who they do not normally live with.

Example – a person with a disability may be accompanied into the community by more than one carer or support worker.

When accessing the community, the Stay at Home requirements must be adhered to.

Changes to other community activities

Many community activities will not be possible due to current restrictions, however, many centre-based activities for people with disability are able to continue but will vary from service to service. Any activities must meet the physical distancing protocols, therefore only undertake activities where physical distancing of 1.5 meters (where safe and practicable) can be maintained between people or 1 person per 4 square meters, noting the advice above relating to Gatherings.

Respite services

Respite services are available to those who seek this care, as recommended by a medical practitioner.

Respite services may only be provided at formal respite facilities managed by a respite provider. The premises in which the respite service is provided must ensure physical distancing and hygiene practices are upheld where safe and practicable for the safety of residents and carers.

National Guidelines for Residential Care Facilities

The Australian Government has released national guidelines for the prevention, control and public health management of COVID-19 outbreaks in residential care facilities in Australia. These guidelines also provide important information relevant to Disability Service Providers.

These guidelines should be referred to for the prevention and management of outbreaks in Tasmania's accommodation for people with disability where residents sleep, eat and live either temporarily or on an ongoing basis. This includes NDIS Supported Disability Accommodation (SDA).

NDIS Providers should regularly refer to the NDIS website and the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission for COVID-19 advice regarding supporting participants and providers.

Supporting individuals with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 in a Disability Service

Individuals who are showing symptoms of COVID-19

If the individual does not meet the criteria for COVID-19 testing, continue to provide support implementing infection control practices and physical distancing and any further direction provided by the treating doctor. For more information go to Testing for COVID-19.

Current NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission advice is that outside of usual clinical care requirements, there is no requirement for workers supporting NDIS participants to wear surgical masks or other items of PPE unless they are working with people who have suspected or confirmed COVID-19, and:

supports being provided are essential to the participant’s life, health or safety;

contact between people exceeds Australian Government Department of Health guidelines for physical distancing or quarantine.

NDIS providers and self-managing participants who can no longer access PPE supplies through usual means can contact the National Medical Stockpile by emailing NDISCOVIDPPE@health.gov.au

The Tasmanian Government has contracted St John Ambulance to coordinate the supply of PPE to essential service providers unable to obtain their supplies through their normal supplier. Contact St John Ambulance on 1300 360 455 or ppe@stjohntas.org.au for assistance.

Disability Support Workers include workers in Tasmania’s disability accommodation facilities. These workers will be considered as frontline workers who may be eligible for Accommodation Support under the Tasmanian Support Measures & Stimulus Package.

Accommodation support for Frontline Workers

Emergency accommodation will be available for frontline workers if they need to stay away from home, in circumstances where their family members are ill.

Disability Support Workers are eligible for this form of assistance.

For workers of disability accommodation, this means that emergency accommodation support will be available by contacting the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738 if it is demonstrated that they are at risk of infection if they reside at their family home.

Accommodation support for Vulnerable Tasmanians

Emergency accommodation will be available for low-income individuals and families who have been placed in quarantine but who are unable to return to their regular place of residence.

For residents of disability accommodation, this means that emergency accommodation will be available by contacting the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738 if it is demonstrated that quarantine from other residents who are at high risk within the facility cannot be reasonably achieved.

Emergency Relief

The provision of emergency food hampers, delivery of medications, financial counselling and other essential support from Recovery Network Partner organisations for persons who are required by Public Health to quarantine due to COVID-19 risk.

Recovery Network Partners include Red Cross, Rural Business Tasmania and The Salvation Army.

For residents of disability accommodation this means that emergency relief assistance for quarantined residents will be available where there is demonstrated need that the facility requires this form of assistance by contacting the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738. Eligibility for these payments does not require residents to transfer to alternative accommodation. Public Health will provide an appropriate referral.

Pandemic Isolation Assistance Grants for Vulnerable Tasmanians

Pandemic Isolation Assistance Grants for vulnerable Tasmanians (also known as Emergency Relief Payments) – one-off payments will be made to low-income persons who are required by Public Health to quarantine due to COVID-19 risk.

For residents of disability accommodation, this means that one-off relief payments for quarantined residents will be available by contacting the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738. Eligibility for these payments does not require residents to transfer to alternative accommodation.

People with disability and NDIS participants

Participants should contact the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) on 1800 800 110 if they need to talk to a planner, make changes to their plan or are having trouble sourcing services due to COVID-19.

More information about COVID-19 for NDIS participants and their families and carers is available on the NDIS website.

The NDIS website also includes easy to read and participant fact sheets to support providers, families and carers to respond to COVID-19.

Last update: 04 Jun 2020 10:54am

If your finances have been impacted by COVID-19 and you are experiencing financial difficulty it is important to get help as early as possible.

Each person’s circumstances are different, and the choices you make today may have long-term implications for your financial future.

Make a budget

Making a budget will help you understand where your money is being spent. It will also be helpful for when you speak with a financial counsellor, your bank or lender, or when you need to apply for financial assistance.

Tasmanian Local Councils have a range of support measures in place, or being implemented, to assist individuals and businesses in financial difficulty due to COVID-19. Councils may also have additional measures available. Visit your council’s website for information and contacts. You can find a link to all councils’ websites on the Local Government Association of Tasmania website.

Tasmanian service providers (water, electricity, gas) have a number of ways that you can keep on top of your bills, including automatic debit and weekly, fortnightly or monthly payment plans. They also have financial hardship policies. If you are having financial difficulties, call your service provider and talk through what is best for you in your circumstance. Having a plan in place will help you manage your bills now and reduce the likelihood of a growing bill that makes you anxious.

Banking and loan lenders are lowering home loan rates or allowing payments to be deferred. To understand how this will impact your loan repayments in the long term, speak to your bank or lender. If you fall behind on your repayments, contact the bank as early as possible and ask if it is possible to reduce repayments for a period of time.

Insurance and claims during COVID-19

For information about claims and insurance you should speak with your insurance company first.

Gatherings and businesses

There are specific restrictions on the gathering sizes for some businesses. Unless it is specified that the limit only applies to attendees, staff and volunteers should be counted in the gathering number. More information is available on the Business Restrictions webpage .

Leaving your home

You can travel and stay anywhere within Tasmania, but must observe the restrictions around gatherings, businesses and services, and household visits. We also recommend you check the parks website for any restrictions on National parks or reserves and council websites for local government facilities.

You should continue to use physical distancing at all times when you are out (staying at least 1.5 metres from other people), wash your hands regularly and cover coughs and sneezes. Read more about gatherings and physical distancing rules.

The FAQs below will help you to understand what these measures mean and how to apply them in daily life. Remember - if you are unwell, you should stay home and arrange testing for coronavirus if you have any cold or flu-like symptoms.

Households

Gatherings at households – including shacks - have increased to up to 10 people at any one time, not including residents of the household.

You should not visit or have visitors to your home if you are unwell.

Work

Should I be going to work?

You are encouraged to continue to work from home if it works for you and your employer. For example, office workers should be encouraged to work from home to help with physical distancing measures and limit the contact between people.

Sport, exercise and recreational activities

Religious and other ceremonies

How many people can attend a religious ceremony?

Up to 40 attendees can attend religious gatherings, ceremonies and instruction; non-denominational ceremonies; and similar services This number excluding staff or volunteers present to facilitate the service or ceremony.

Services and venues involved in religious ceremonies, funerals and weddings must have a COVID-19 Workplace Safety Plan in place.

How many people can attend a funeral?

The total number of people at a funeral must not exceed 50 attendees for indoor and outdoor funerals. Event or premises staff or volunteers are not included in this count.

How many people can attend a wedding?

Weddings can be conducted with no more than 40 people, excluding the couple getting married and those required to facilitate the wedding. This applies to both indoor and outdoor weddings.

Vulnerable Tasmanians

Vulnerable people are encouraged to continue to stay home and protect their health, or take extra precautions when out and about. This advice applies to:

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 50 years and older with one or more chronic medical conditions

People 65 years and older with chronic medical conditions

All people 70 years and older

People with compromised immune systems

People with a disability, if you have received medical advice to do so.

This does not mean that these people are unable to leave home or to visit others.

But members of these high-risk groups should take extra precautions to avoid unwell visitors, including unwell children who might not fully understand physical distancing boundaries.

Last update: 08 May 2020 9:48am

At present, because of the physical distancing requirements in place as a result of COVID-19, a significant number of Justices of the Peace (JPs) are no longer undertaking their duties.

The Department of Justice supports the decision of any Justice to take this course of action, given that a number of Justices are older members of the community and may be susceptible to an increased risk of contracting the virus. Justices have limited premises from which they can provide services and in those circumstances, it is not considered appropriate for members of the public to visit Justices at their residences.

Notwithstanding this, a small number of Justices are continuing to provide services. See the Department of Justice website for a list of Justices of the Peace.

Please consider whether your document is essential and must be sworn urgently. If it does not need to be done now please consider waiting until the situation improves.

In the event that a Justice is urgently required, it is recommended that you phone Justices in your area to ask whether they are willing to deal with your matter.

Before contacting a Justice, please carefully read the document to see whether a Justice is in fact required. Many of the duties of a Justice can also be undertaken by a Commissioner for Declarations who can:

witness signatures to documents;

certify a true copy of an original document; and

take statutory declarations.

Commissioners for Declarations include:

accountants;

bank, building society or credit union officers with 5 or more continuous years of service;

dentists;

nurses;

optometrists;

permanent Commonwealth, State or a Local Government employees with 5 or more continuous years of service;

Arrangements are being put in place to allow for electronic witnessing/certifying/taking of statutory declarations. Further details will be published as soon as they become available.

Last update: 02 Jun 2020 10:13am

Visiting public hospital patients

A COVID-19 Visitor Policy has been developed for Tasmania’s Public Hospitals and Clinics. The Policy places some restrictions on who can visit and when they can visit, as well as measures all visitors should apply to reduce the risk of COVID-19 being passed on to patients in hospital. This is important because of the vulnerable nature of many patients to COVID-19 – particularly as they recover from other illnesses or while undergoing treatment.

Under the Policy, unless you are seeking personal medical treatment or care, members of the public should not visit hospital, outpatient departments or clinic sites if they have:

Fever

Cough

Sore throat

Runny nose

Gastrointestinal symptoms

Been advised to self isolate following international or interstate travel or COVID-19 testing.

All visitors will be required to complete a visitor screening tool prior to entering the hospital.

All visitors will be required to follow guidelines such as washing hands prior to and after leaving the ward, covering coughs and sneezes and maintaining physical distancing (at least 1.5 metres) while at the hospital.

Restrictions are in place for specific hospital wards. See the table below for more information.

Intending visitors to private hospitals should contact the hospital directly to find out their policy in relation to visitors.

Visiting hours

Visiting hours are restricted to 2pm-6pm daily as of Monday 1 June 2020.

To provide additional safeguards to patients, the following restrictions will also be in place:

Visitors will be limited to a maximum of one per patient at any one time (note Visitor Exceptions below for specific hospital wards or locations).

The use of alternative methods of communication ie telephone or FaceTime/Skype to stay connected with families/carers/social networks should be encouraged.

Visitors should not congregate in common areas or use kitchenettes/pantries/other shared areas across the organisation.

Visitors within multi-bed rooms should be monitored to ensure adherence to social distancing principles.

Please note exceptions to this may be negotiated at unit management level (Nurse Unit Manager) with consideration on a case-by-case basis. Contact the Nurse Unit Manager at the hospital if seeking an exception.

Visitor numbers for wards

Area / ward

Number of visitors

Outpatient clinics and community centres

Support person only

Department of Critical Care Medicine

Two visitors will be allowed at any one time

Emergency Department

One visitor per patient

Neonatal Intensive Care

Parents / carers have unrestricted visiting with a maximum of two people visiting

Compassionate situation – exemptions may be applied for siblings

Paediatric Unit

Parents / carers have unrestricted visiting with a maximum of two people visiting

Maternity Unit

One support person during labour and birth

Operating Theatre and Recovery Room

Visitors not routinely allowed. Parents may visit children post-surgery

Short Stay Surgical Unit

One support person permitted

Palliative Care

Two patients at any one time – exemptions may apply during the terminal phase of care

COVID-19 Rent Relief Fund

A COVID-19 Rent Relief Fund has been established to assist tenants suffering from extreme hardship, with support of up to $2,000 or four weeks rent available. More information on the Fund is available from the Communities Tasmania website.

Last update: 05 Jun 2020 5:01pm

A staged approach of lifting of restrictions is in place for Tasmania. This approach has been developed to help reduce the risk to the community of COVID-19.

The changes are gradual, with careful monitoring of each stage to ensure the safeguards are working in reducing the risk of outbreaks and enabling health authorities to respond if needed.

The easing of restrictions will continue to be based on Public Health advice and changes will be made depending on Tasmania's circumstances.

Funerals – increased from 10 to 20 attendees.

Aged care visits – one visit per week and no more than two visitors, managed by the facility.

National parks and reserves – open to residents for exercise within 30km of their home.

TasTAFE campuses and training facilities open for invited small groups of students only attending practical learning and assessment sessions.

18 May 2020

Household visitors

Visitors to households increases to up to 5 people at any one time, in addition to residents of the household.

Sport and recreation

Up to 10 people at one time can use outside gyms, skate parks and play equipment in public playgrounds; do outdoor exercise including boot camps and sports training; and use indoor and outdoor pools. Parks can be used for activities other than exercising, such as picnics, as long as physical distancing is maintained.

Hospitality

Travel and quarantine

Border controls remain in place. Domestic travelling Tasmanian residents can quarantine in their primary residence if it is suitable. Specific conditions apply to residents of King Island, Flinders Island and the Furneaux Group of Islands – see Coming to Tasmania for more information.

Fly-in fly-out workers may leave quarantine before they complete 14 days if it is to return interstate to their employment.

Working from home

25 May 2020

Year 11 and 12 students at extension schools and colleges return to learning at school.

Aged care visits - move to national restrictions of two visitors, once a day.

Legal Directions to determine the detail of the changed restrictions are currently being drafted in line with Public Health advice. Some restrictions will be updated over coming days. Please check this website regularly and businesses should also keep up-to-date through industry groups and Business Tasmania.

Friday 5 June 2020 from 3pm

Gatherings

Gatherings increase to 20 people at a time for indoor and outdoor, with physical distancing of 1.5 metres (where practicable) and a maximum of one person per 4 square metres applicable. Read about physical distancing and maximum density rules.

Household visitors

Visitors to households is increasing to 10 people at any one time (indoor or outdoor), in addition to residents of the household.

As of 3pm on Friday 5 June you can travel to and stay at your shack. There is no limit to how long you may stay at your shack.

Visitor restrictions apply to your shack as they would to your primary residence therefore during Stage 2 you may have up to 10 people (not including your household) visit and stay overnight at your shack.

Business restrictions

Gatherings at most businesses increase to 20, with the following reopening or subject to changed restrictions:

accommodation (no limit on the number of guests, apart from rented holiday houses/short-stay accommodation, which are limited to 20 attendees and subject to density limits. For all other venues gathering limits and the one person per 4 square meter rule applies in common areas but not in guest rooms.

camping and caravan parks (booked sites must not exceed the maximum density limit for that site, unless those camping are all from the same household)

function centres

open homes and auctions

cinemas (40 attendees per cinema)

museums, galleries and historic sites (80 attendees)

theatres and concert venues (40 attendees with an additional number of 20 people specified for performers)

outdoor amusement parks, arcades and play centres

betting shopfronts

indoor gyms, fitness centres and sporting venues, including boot camps, yoga, barre, gymnastics and cheerleading facilities (noting at least one employee must be on premises during operating hours)

dance schools

health clubs, fitness and wellness centres, including yoga and barre

zoos and wildlife parks (40 attendees)

Restaurant and cafe gatherings increase to 40. The restriction on the number of diners applies to the venue as a whole regardless of whether the venue has multiple separate dining rooms.

Pubs, clubs and bars can open and serve food and/or drinks to seated patrons, with a gathering limit of 40. Betting services and TASkeno will be permitted in pubs, clubs and bars.

Gathering restrictions will not apply to beauty and personal care services, but the one person per four square metre rule will apply. These services include beauty therapy, massage, facials, tanning, waxing, manicure or other nail treatments, ear and body piercing, tattoos, body modification and day spas.

Sport, exercise and recreation

Camping permitted.

National parks and reserves opening, including campgrounds. The limit on day trips for exercising and travelling to within 30km of your home will no longer apply. Visit the Parks and Wildlife Service website to check which campgrounds will be open and services available this weekend.

Park exercise equipment and playgrounds open for up to 20 people.

Outdoor community sport to resume, with up to 20 athletes/personnel (as guided by AIS framework level B for rebooting sport).

Indoor sport and recreation, including pools with up to 20 (as guided by AIS framework level B for rebooting sport). Showers and change rooms remain closed.

Working from home

9 June 2020

13 June 2020

13 July 2020

Gatherings: 50 – 100 (indoor/outdoor) with the maximum allowable number to be determined by Public Health.

Aged care homes allowed 5 visitors and multiple visits.

Border controls remain in place.

Consider opening night clubs.

Markets to open, subject to Public Health advice.

Food courts and food vans at markets may open.

Saunas and bathhouses to reopen.

Day trips and camping for school groups allowed.

Outdoor community sport (as guided by AIS proposed framework for rebooting community sport) to resume, with numbers to be guided by Public Health.

Indoor sport and recreation (as guided by AIS proposed framework for rebooting community sport) including pools, with numbers to be guided by Public Health.

Vulnerable people are encouraged to stay home and protect their health.

In line with the easing of restrictions announced by the government, local councils are undertaking a number of protective measures to make sure when their recreational spaces and facilities do open, the safety of the community and council staff is the highest priority.

These recreational spaces and facilities will be re-opened by local councils as soon as possible. Each council will provide updates about re-opening dates on their website and social media pages.

Once school-based learning resumes, you may still choose to keep your child at home to learn if you are concerned about COVID-19. However, parents who make this choice will be responsible for supporting their child’s learning through their own resources. The Department of Education Learning at Home webpage provides some ideas and activities which may assist in this instance. Please let your school know if you plan to keep your child at home to learn. It is expected that all students who are well will return to learn at school by the end of Term 2.

If your child has health concerns and is vulnerable to COVID-19, your child will still be supported by your school to learn from home once school-based learning resumes. For more information, talk to your school about what support they can provide.

The AHPPC has recommended schools remain open. Their advice is that pre-emptive closures are not likely to be effective to prevent community transmission of COVID-19 at this time. The most important strategies for schools and the Education and Care sector to implement to assist families to stay healthy include:

Promoting personal hygiene and cough and sneeze etiquette

Additional cleaning (especially of frequently touched surfaces)

Encouraging physical distancing by cancelling or postponing a range of activities

Supporting staff and families to stay home if they are unwell

Supporting those who are more at risk of severe illness if they contract COVID-19

Looking after the psychological wellbeing of students, staff and families.

Temporary site closures will likely occur when a confirmed case of COVID-19 is identified at a site. This is to support the Department of Health to conduct contact tracing, and provide time for cleaning and re-assurance to the affected school or service community. All temporary closures will be arranged in consultation with Department of Health.

Student transport

For schools with their own bus services, please refer to the relevant school for details.

Student accommodation

All student accommodation facilities (whether Government or Independent) operating in the COVID-19 environment have changed their procedures to include increased cleaning and physical distancing measures as far as practicable. Good personal hygiene and cough/sneeze etiquette is being encouraged as well as strong support for students (and their families) should they become unwell.

Should I send my child to school?

All children who are well should be sent to school. If your child has a health condition which makes them vulnerable to COVID-19, you should talk to your doctor about whether sending them to school at the moment is in their best interests.

Children should not be sent to school if they feel unwell with cold or flu-like symptoms including:

fever

runny nose

cough, sore/itchy throat or

shortness of breath

Children should stay home and you should phone your GP or the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738 for a referral to be tested for COVID-19.

Children should only be returning to school once their cold/flu like symptoms have passed.

Cancellation of school gatherings

The Tasmanian Government has introduced precautionary measures to limit the impact of COVID-19 in schools. Schools have adopted physical distancing measures, including the cancellation of:

assemblies and presentation nights

excursions

travel

fetes and fairs

concerts (with audiences)

sports carnivals

school camps (both local and interstate)

face-to-face parent teacher meetings.

These restrictions will be in place until further notice.

Child and Family Centres

All Child and Family Centres are open, but are only providing limited services. These include urgent appointments for Child Health and Parenting Services (CHaPS), Early Childhood Intervention Services (ECIS), Child Safety Services (CSS) or other services identified by community needs in each area. Staff are onsite and contactable via phone or social media.

Education and Care Services

Education and Care and Child Care Services include long day care, family day care, outside schools hours care and vacation care programs.

These services are performing a vital role providing education and care for children, particularly the children of essential workers, vulnerable and disadvantaged children and previously enrolled children.

Find an Education and Care or Child Care Service

To find a service, families can call the Child Care Family Helpline on 1800 291 041 from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Families can also search for early childhood education and child care services online using Starting Blocks and Child Care Finder

Early Childhood Education and Care Relief Package

The Australian Government has announced major changes to its funding to support education and care services to remain open.

Services that remain open will now receive a weekly payment to ensure they can deliver early childhood education and care to families who need it. Families will not incur any cost. This will also mean that families can still keep their child enrolled at childcare whether they attend or not. If they do not attend due to COVID-19 they will retain their place at no cost.

The aim is to support services to remain open to ensure that quality education and care continues to be available to support essential workers and vulnerable children.

All services are working through these changes and will be in contact with families.

Support for providers

Providers can call the Education and Care COVID-19 helpline on 1800 816 057 from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday, for advice on the range of supports available.

Safety

Education and Care Services are working hard to apply any additional Public Health, Workplace Health and Safety and Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) guidance to their practices. The AHPPC has recommended Education and Care services remain open but with additional safety measures in place, including:

unwell staff, children and visitors to stay home

reduced mixing of children by separating them into groups (including the staggering of meal and play times)

enhanced personal hygiene for children, staff and parents, including having liquid soap and running water or alcohol-based hand sanitiser available

full adherence to the NHMRC childcare cleaning guidelines, with additional daily cleaning of high-touch surfaces and washing of toys and play items

excursions will only be to local parks

public playground equipment is not to be used

influenza vaccinations for children, staff and parents will be encouraged

Should I send my child to child care?

Children should not be sent to Education and Care services if they feel unwell with cold or flu-like symptoms including:

fever

runny nose

cough, sore/itchy throat or

shortness of breath

Children should stay home and you should phone your GP or the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738 for a referral to be tested for COVID-19. Children should only be returning to Education and Care once their cold/flu like symptoms have passed.

For more information

Gathering restrictions are in place for sport, exercise and recreational activities. Easing of restrictions will be assessed by Public Health Services throughout each stage. The following currently applies to sport, exercise and recreation activities in Tasmania.

All sport and recreation facilities listed below can now open for up to 20 attendees, excluding staff, but must meet the four square metre rule, and all people should maintain a distance of 1.5 metres from others where possible. Changing area and showers at all sporting centres and facilities are not permitted to be used, excluding toilets.

Indoor and outdoor pools may operate for up to 20 people per pool. This may include lane swimming and/or pool-based exercise. As communal showers and change rooms are closed (excludes toilets), swimmers are encouraged to shower with soap at home before and after swimming. No spectators other than one parent/carer supervising a child, or a carer(s) supporting someone with a disability.

Gyms and boot camps can operate for up to 20 attendees. For indoor gyms, at least one employee or other person responsible for the premises must be present at the facility while it is being used

Outdoor park exercise equipment, skate parks and playgrounds can open for up to 20 people.

Up to 20 attendees, excluding staff, are permitted at an indoor gym or sports facility. This applies to the entire premises. A gym/sport facility cannot have 20 attendees in each separate indoor area of that premises.

Multi-purpose indoor sporting facilities are permitted to have up to 20 athletes undertaking sport/training (excluding coaching/support staff) at any one time.

Under Level B in the AIS Framework, most sports are limited to training.

Outdoor exercise and community sport and recreation activities/training are open for groups of up to 20 attendees (in alignment with Level B in the AIS Framework). For outdoor sports and activities, multiple groups of 20 people can use the same ground/location so long as they are separate groups and allow 4 square metres of space available per attendee. Attendees must also maintain a distance of at least 1.5 metres from each other.

Indoor sport and recreation activities/training has commenced for up to 20 attendees (excluding coaches/staff, in alignment with Level B, in the AIS Framework).

Yoga, barre, dance schools and other fitness studios can open for a maximum of 20 attendees.

Indoor amusement parks and arcades are not permitted to open.

Boating - no restrictions on where you can launch your boat, and you can stay overnight.

National Parks - no restrictions on travelling to or camping at a National Park or reserve, however visit Tasmania’s Parks and Wildlife Service website to ensure the particular park or reserve you want to visit is open. Restrictions on gatherings of 20 people outdoors applies.

Hunting - You can go hunting, but you must adhere to restrictions regarding physical distancing, season dates and have the relevant licences and permits in place. For more information, see DPIPWE’s COVID-19 Hunting Arrangements page.

On Friday 8 May 2020, Tasmania’s Plan to Rebuild a Stronger Tasmania was released. The Plan has three Stages to ease COVID-19 restrictions to support the health and safety of all Tasmanians. Easing of restrictions will be assessed by Public Health Services throughout each stage.

Stage 2 restrictions commenced 5 June 2020. A return to full sporting activity (indoors and outdoors) in alignment with the AIS framework will be considered in Stage Three, based on advice from Public Health.

COVID-19 Safety Plan for workplaces

Under the Plan to Rebuild a Stronger Tasmania, all workplaces (including sporting organisations) will be required to have a COVID-19 Safety Plan that complies with COVID-19 minimum standards.

The WorkSafe Website outlines the minimum standards required of workplaces to manage the ongoing risk of COVID-19 transmission. A set of guidelines is being developed to support the sport and recreation sector on how best to meet the minimum standards and are expected to be released in mid-June 2020.

In the meantime, sporting organisations in Tasmania should prepare COVID-19 Safety Plans to ensure they comply with the minimum standards in relation to physical distancing, cleaning, general hygiene practices and health of participants, and the activities outlined in Level B of the AIS Framework.

State Sporting Organisations (SSO) should submit their COVID-19 Safety Plans to Communities, Sport and Recreation (CSR) at sportrec@communities.tas.gov.au. CSR will not be providing endorsement of COVID-19 Safety Plans but will be able to check them for general compliance.

All sports clubs and associations should discuss their COVID-19 Safety Plans with their relevant SSO in the first instance.

Sport and recreation facilities

Sport and Recreation facility owners and managers are encouraged, as part of their COVID-19 Safety Plan, to consider appropriate control measures when reopening facilities, including cleaning and general hygiene practices.

Under Level B of the AIS Framework, general hygiene measures ask that participants ‘Get in, train and get out’, including showering at home and avoiding communal meals and socialising, so that change rooms and other communal facility use is limited.

Changing area and showers at sporting centres/facilities are not permitted to be used however toilets should be open for access.

Further lifting of gatherings restrictions at Stage 3, which may impact the number of people that can attend a gym or larger multi-purpose indoor sporting facilities, are subject to Public Health advice.

Passengers are encouraged to keep physical distancing in mind and choose a seat away from others where possible.

Using buses

Anyone feeling unwell should avoid using public transport.

For short trips, consider walking or cycling.

Travel outside peak periods where possible.

While waiting at bus stops, practice social distancing.

Adults seeking to board a bus which has a high number of passengers are asked to consider waiting for the next service where available. This request does not apply to children.

Practice good hand hygiene. If possible use hand sanitiser before and after catching the bus.

Spread out on board as much as you can. Members of the same household and family groups can sit together.

Avoid touching surfaces inside the bus whenever you can.

Please comply with any requests from your bus driver.

Contactless bus travel and fare amnesty

To minimise person-to-person contact, public bus services across the state are currently provided free of charge. This includes general access and fare-charging school buses.

A fare amnesty has been put in place until 5 July 2020 (extended from 31 May 2020) to allow all passengers time to adopt alternative payment options where available.

Passengers without a smartcard should apply for one from their bus operator where available during this period and make arrangements to top up the credit on their card by electronic means. Students travelling on fare paying school buses should arrange to purchase 10-trip tickets to minimise the number of transactions where a non-cash option is not available.

Metro Tasmania

Greencards are available for free from 26 March (travel credit must be purchased). Travel will be free from Thursday 26 March until 5 July 2020 to give people time to get a free Greencard and set up an online account to top up credit.

Metro Tasmania has implemented an enhanced cleaning regime of its bus fleet by its contractor, with particular attention being paid to frequently touched surfaces.

School bus arrangements for Term 2

School bus services to Government, Catholic and Independent schools are operating where the school is open to students. The continued operation of school bus services is being regularly reviewed based on Public Health advice and updates.

The number of students using school buses will continue to increase from 9 June as high schools resume on site learning. The Department of State Growth will monitor school bus demand and consider whether any changes to bus services are needed.

Advice on school bus cleaning has been circulated to all contracted school bus operators in the state with new requirements for more regular cleaning of bus interiors.

Community transport

Community transport services such as those provided by many local councils and NGOs to support access to medical care and other essential services can continue. Minimise the number of people in a car or bus to ensure physical distancing can be maintained.